Method and apparatus for producing self-sustaining multi-cell textile fabric sheath material



A ril 18, 1967 L A. BORK'JLO 3,314,104

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SELF-SUSTAINING MULTI-CELL TEXTILE FABRIC SHEATH MATERIAL Filed Sept. 18, 1963 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l L in. 19 usanah Bnr/o/a BY liqaj fr War April 18, 1967 A. BORIOLO 3,314,104

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SELF-SUSTAINI MULTI-GELL TEXTILE FABRIC SHEATH MATERIAL Filed Sept. 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 il -Lg i I 120 it 100" w I 6 o m i* 40 1 N VEN TOR. Lido lf ferm dm [fo /72:62 BY -14 1? fl/V'k" fig April 18, 1967 1.. A. BORIOLO 3,314,104 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SELF-SUSTAINING MULTI-CELL TEXTILE FABRIC SHEATH MATERIAL Filed Sept. 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 MOM finx 112% 3,314,104 -SUSTAINING' LE FABRIC SHEA'I'H MATERIAL April 8, 1967 1.. A. BORIOLO TUS FOR PRODUCING SELF *CELL TEXTI METHOD AND APPARA MULTI 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 18,

INVENTOR. 1 II? J filers Ind/ Gar/o d United States Patent 3,314,104 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SELF-SUSTAINING MULTl-CELL TEXTILE FAB- RIC SHEATH MATERIAL i Lino Alessandro Boriolo, Via Monterosa, (insane Miianino, Italy Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 309,747 Claims priority, application Italy, Sept. 21, 1962, 18,758/ 62 9 Claims. (Cl. 18--1) This invention generally relates to the manufacture of textile sheaths constructed of acid resisting threads and designed for providing storage battery or electric accumulator plates of the type having spaced pencils of active material formed about parallel conductive spines attached to a top bar, within the parallel and spaced cells of a textile sheath which actuates porous fabric walls to confine said active material.

More particularly, this invention relates to the manufacture of a self-sustaining textile material comprising a plurality of parallel cells of a predetermined size and shape and evenly spaced at predetermined intervals, and adapted for producing a number of multi-tubular plate sheaths of the type considered, by cutting said material into generally rectangular pieces of the desired size.

It is known to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains that a multi-tubular self-sustaining sheath material of the type referred to above may be provided by heat-processing an originally flabby fabric including a plurality of suitably dimensioned parallel pockets and consisting or at least prevailingly consisting of a network of threads formed with a or a mixture of synthetic fibers capable of substantial shrinkage when heated, upon provision of suitably shaped and dimensioned rod-like forming bodies into each individual pocket of said fabric, so that free heat-shrinkage of said fabric is limited by said bodies, whereby each pocket is caused to assume the shape and the dimension of a forming body located therein and whereby the thus formed cells are caused to set at a relative interval as defined by the inter-axial spacing of adjacent forming bodies. Further information about such known advantageous procedure for producing said textile plate sheaths may be had from the disclosure of my Patent No. 2,972,000 of the United States of America.

The present invention has for its object a new and improved method and apparatus for continuously mass producing multi-tubular self-sustaining textile material for cutting plate sheaths therefrom, and more particularly for continuously processing an endless piece of pocketed heatshrinlcable fabric into said multi-tubular self-sustaining textile material, but successively progressing said fabric into and through a processing apparatus wherein each part of such fabric is controlledly heat-processed about forming bodies.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and advantageous method for continuously processing an endless or lengthwise extended piece of fabric of acid-resisting and heat-shrinkable fibrous material, including parallel and evenly dimensioned and spaced pockets transversely located in said fabric, said method essentially comprising the steps of successively locating individual forming bodies in each pocket of the fabric, said bodies being of such length that both end portions of each forming body will extend outside the edge of the piece of fabric, of continuously lengthwise progressing said fabric at one given linear speed while adjacent bodies are caused to assume and maintain one given relative inter axial interval greater than the inter-axial spacing of the cells in the self-sustaining material to be produced and at which the said fabric as at room temperature is in a substantially collapsed condition about said forming bodies,

of further progressing bodies and fabric while heat is applied to said fabric to cause shrinkage thereof about said bodies, of controlledly and concurrently decreasing said inter-axial interval of adjacent bodies and said linear speed for partially matching the shrinkage of the fabric, of causing said fabric to cool at a temperature at which the material is made self-sustaining, and of causing said adjacent bodies to be set at an inter-axial interval equal to the inter-axial spacing of the cells of the material to be produced, prior that said latter temperature is attained.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the heat required for processing the fabric and for causing the required heat-shrinkage thereof is provided by heating each individual forming body. Such bodies may there fore advantageously consist of metal tubes each having an electrical resistor located therein and relatively insulated metallic end portions connected to either terminals of such resistor, the heating of said bodies being caused upon contacting said end portion, while the said bodies are progressed together with the fabric, with suitable contactors connected to a source of current. The heat supplied to the individual portions of the fabric, located about each individual forming body, may be therefore readily controlled by controlling the current supply to said contactors in response to the temperature attained by the said portions as progressed along portions of a processing apparatus.

Further, according to an important feature of this invention, the progressing of the fabric and the control of the spacings between adjacent forming bodies in the pockets of the said fabric may be readily attained by supporting said forming bodies at their said end portions external to the fabric, by conveyor means recessed and shaped to form spaced seats for said end portions, the spacing of said seat defining the desired inter-axial interval of said bodies and the motion of said conveyor means defining the linear speed at which said fabric is progressed While subject to the said steps.

Other features and advantages of my invention are in part obvious and will in part be made apparent as this description proceeds. The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and to the method for carrying out the same, will be: best understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming an essential component of this disclosure, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatical perspective view of an apparatus constructed and operated according with the method of the invention;

FIGURES 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are diagrammatical elevation views wherein successive portions of said apparatus, including various mechanical and heat processing devices of the apparatus are included;

FIGURE 3 is a simplified cross-sectional elevation of the apparatus, taken in the plane indicated at 3-3 in FIG. 1; i

FIGURE 4 is a graph combined with a diagrammatical side elevation of the prevailing portion of the apparatus, including a curve which is indicative of the heat-processing to which the fabric material is subjected as progressed through said apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation illustrating the essential components of a device included in portion of the apparatus, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A.

FIGURE 5A diagrammatically illustrates, in enlarged scale, the action of the device of FIG. 5 on the material as progressed therethrough;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an 3 embodiment of conveyor means adapted for progressing the forming bodies and the fabric material through several portions of the apparatus;

FIGURE 7 illustrates in an enlarged scale and in a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken the plane indicated at 77 in FIG. 5, some details of one of the heating and forming bodies and of conveyor means for progressing same;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to those of FIG. and illustrates another device included in the portion of the apparatus, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2C;

FIGURES 8A and 8B are views similar to those of FIG. 5A and illustrate the action of the device of FIG. 8, at the inlet and respectively at the outlet thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to those of FIGS. 5 and 8 and illustrates a further device included in the portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2D; and

FIGURES 9A, 9B and 9C are views similar to those of FIGS. 8A and 8B and illustrate the action of the device of FIG. 9, at the inlet and respectively at a middle portion and at the outlet thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals and character refer to like or equivalent parts and components throughout the several figures:

The method and the apparatus of the invention will be now described without specific reference to the material or materials which may be made use of for providing the multi-pocketed fabric, except as to one example of carrying out said method, wherein some dimensional, time and temperature values will be given. The values are however subject to important modification, in relation with the differing material which are made use of, and the size of cells to be formed, the thickness of the fabric, and the amplitude of the hardening effect which is desired.

A number of synthetic fibers which can heat-shrink as required for the working of the invention is well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the fabric might be provided by forming a porous network of threads prevailingly formed with synthetic fibers selected from the group including vinyl polymers, acryl and acrylonitril polymers, copolymers of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile, polyesters, and mixtures of said fibers. The temperature value to be imparted to the material for the processing thereof can be known by the typical particulars of the selected materials, namely as a function of the temperature at which the material shrinks, and controlled by preliminary test sample processing.

In addition, in the detailed description below, it will be assumed that the material is such to develop into a selfsustaining structure when caused to heat-shrink about forming bodies dimensioned to partially limiting and contrasting the shrinkage. A number of such materials is known, such as the vinyl, acrylonitril and acrylovinyl copolymers. The method and the apparatus of the invention are not however limited to such materials and they will be advantageously made use of for processing into a self-sustaining multi-tubular structure a fabric of threads which are incapable of acquiring the desirable self-sustenance, and therefore require the addition of sizing and stiffening agents. For example, the invention may be advantageously worked by processing, as described below a textile network formed by threads of polyester fibers, suitably impregnated with agents adapted to impart the desired substantial hardening or self-sustenancy to the material upon heat-processing thereof, such as a solution of an acrylic resin or of an acrylovinyl copolymer.

Further, the invention may be advantageously worked by processing a texture wherein the heat-shrinkable component or components is or respectively are combined with other components, such as a texture consisting of a network formed by synthetic threads of the types above and by fiberglass threads, for example, provided that the amount of the synthetic fibers in the networks is such to provide the required heat-shrinkage and self-sustenance of the processed material. Such texture may be desirable, for example, where an inner face of the cells, prevailingly consisting of acid-resistant inorganic matter, such as glass, is required for most severe conditions of operation of the accumulator.

As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus of the invention essentially consists of a machine having a frame structure and including conveyor means for progressing the textile material in direction A lengthwise of said structure. The material to be treated may be unwound from a roller 10 supported about a shaft 11 and progressed along a table 12 wherein the forming bodies may be successively fitted inside the individual pockets of said material, which is pulled and supplied into the machine by a feeding device generally indicated at 13, which embodies the inlet portion of the apparatus.

The outlet portion of same apparatus is embodied by an outlet table or receiving plane 14 wherein the individual forming bodies may be manually or mechanically drawn outside said pockets which, upon the heat treatment and the shrinkage of the material, have been acquired the desired shape and spacing, preparatory of the cutting plate sheaths off from the thus processed and stabilized multi-tubular material. Said receiving table 14 may be followed by a sloping down slide, such as fragmentarily shown in FIG. 2D, for facilitating the collecting and transportation of the material.

The said apparatus includes a plurality of portions arranged lengthwise of the apparatus, in the material progressing direction A, wherein the several individual steps of the method are successively carried out. Such portions may be more clearly understood from FIGS. 2A to 2D. According to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, the said inlet device 13 is followed by a first preparatory portion 15 wherein the material is progressed at a first given speed and while suitable conveyor means 49 (an exemplificative embodiment of which will be detailedly described below) keep the forming bodies at a first given interval at which the not yet processed fabric is in a rather collapsed condition about the said forming bodies.

At the outlet of said preparatory portion 15, wherein the fabric is uniformly set on and about the forming bodies, said bodies are transferred into a first heating portion 16 wherein the material is subject to heat and its shrinkage about the forming bodies begins. As such shrinkage develops, the said forming bodies are transferred on a second heating portion 17, wherein the shrinkage is completed. The progression of the forming bodies along said second heating portion 17 is performed by conveyor means 66 (FIG. 2C) which impart to adjacent forming bodies a relative second given interval smaller than the interval kept along portions 15 and 16, for partially matching the shrinkage of the material.

The transfer of the forming bodies from conveyors 53 of first heating portion 16 and conveyors 60 of second heating portion 17 is preferably made by means of a device 18, wherein the said forming bodies are conveyed by means 55 (FIG. 2C) adapted to allow said forming bodies to move relatively to each other, whereby a suitable self-setting of the material about the said forming bodies occurs for ensuring the even arrangement of the textile network prior than it will positively shrink about said forming bodies.

The apparatus includes further two successive portions 19 and 20 wherein conveyor means 61 and respectively 65 (FIGS. 2C and 2D) further progress the forming bodies and the material shrunk thereabout towards and onto the receiving table 14, while said material is allowed to cool at least to a temperature at which the shrunk material is stabilized and made self-sustaining in the shape and dimension defined by the shape and interval of the conveyed forming bodies. The said conveyors 65 operating in portion 20 are arranged for imparting and keeping said forming bodies at an interval equal to the desired interval of the cells in the plate sheaths to be cut from the processed material.

In addition, between the said two cooling portions 19 and 20 a further device 21 is arranged for imparting to the shrunk material, prior that its stabilization is completed, a somewhat stretching action for properly equalizing the arrangement of the network and of the parts thereof, wherein the adjacent cells are interconnected. Such stretching may be attained by causing the said forming bodies to follow a brief curved path, as explained below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 9C.

As the synthetic heat-shrinkable fibers attain the highest temperatures of the process, some disagreeable and even rather poisonous gases and fumes may develop from the material. The apparatus is therefore provided with means for scavenging said gases and fumes and to provide a positive air circulation about the material to expedite and equalize the cooling thereof. Such latter means may include, as more clearly shown in FIG. 3, a scavenging duct 22 wherein a suction is caused by suitable conventional exhaust fans (not shown) and connected to ducts 23 and 24 having intake ports 25 and 26 symmetrically located above and 27 and 28 symmetrically located below the path of the progressed material. Suitable shutter means are preferably provided at said ports 25 to 28 for controlling the outflow and the symmetry of the cooling action exerted by the resulting air circulation, attained by providing a suction in excess to the amount required for scavenging said gases and fumes.

Preferably, the heating of the heat-shrinkable material is provided by means of same forming bodies, each one of which may be constructed as fragmentarily shown in FIG. 7. Such forming body consists of a metal tube 42 longer than the width of the fabric to be progressed, and having a resistor 31 arranged lengthwise thereinto, the terminals of said resistor being connected to metal end portions 29 and 31B of the forming bodies. Such end portions are electrically insulated from each other and may be electrically connected, by means of conductive slide bars (such as diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 2B, 2C and 3), arranged along the said heating portions 16 and 17 and connected to a suitable source of current (not shown).

The apparatus of the invention is adapted for processing multi-pocketed material of any fibrous component which is suitable for the uses described, such as acrylic resin fibers, vinylic resin fibers, acrylo-vinyl copolymer fibers, polyester fibers, and the mixtures thereof, for example. The temperatures and the time intervals of the process will be obviously chosen according to the critical values typical of the fibrous material to be processed, according to the art. For better understanding of the invention, however, an exemplificative embodiment of the method of the invention will now be described with reference to the graph of FIG. 4 and the time and temperature indicated below correspond to the processing of a multipocketed fabric prevailingly consisting of threads of the copolymer of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile, known on trade under the registered name Dynel. There will be further indicated examples of dimensional values, corresponding to the processing of such fabric for the manufacture of a multi-tubular stabilized material adapted for producing multi-cell plate sheaths having cylindrical cells of 8 millimeters inner diameter and located at inter-axial intervals of 9.6 millimeter-s, produced by making use of heating and forming bodies of cylindrical shape and of 8 millimeters outer diameter, of the type shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the graph of FIG. 4: the material is supplied and continuously fed at the inlet of first heating portion 16 at the room temperature (such as at 20 C.) about forming bodies which are maintained at an interaxial interval of 12.7 millimeters and is subject, in the time interval T to T (such as of 110 seconds) to heating adapted to progressively increase its surface temperature at a value (such as of 105 to 115 C. at which a substantial shrinkage of the fabric network occurs. As shown by curve C of the graph, whose thickness indicated the acceptable allowance of thermal values and rates, the heating may be caused to occur at a nearly constant and relatively steep rate.

Upon passage through the device 18, the material is then transferred into the second heating portion 17, wherein the conveyor means 66 thereof imparts to and maintains the forming bodies an inter-axial inter-val near to the interval of the cells to be produced and stabilized in the processed material, such as of 9.75 millimeters, and further heated at a slower rate up to a temperature at which full shrinkage of the network occurs (such at 145 to 150 C. about), in the time interval T to T (such as of 60 seconds). Adding the time occurring for passage through device 13, wherein the network while subject to shrinkage sets about the forming bodies, the entire heating step from instant T to instant T will develop in about 3 minutes 20 seconds. At the outlet of heating portion 17 the material is shrunk but pretty soft and not capable to selfsustain itself in the shape and dimension defined by the shape and relative position or the adjacent forming bodies.

The material is then allowed or caused to cool, during the time interval T to T (of about 3 minutes 10 seconds) down to a temperature at which the material is fully stabilized and made self-sustaining, so that the forming bodies may be drawn otf from the cells thus formed in the material (such as, according to the example considered, less than C. and preferably less than 70 C. The cooling step is preferably performed in the two successive portions 19 and 20 and includes the passage through device 21. In portion 19, during the time interval T to T (80 seconds about), the forming bodies are maintained at the said inter-axial interval slightly greater than the interval of cells in the finished material (such as of 9.75 millimeters) and the material is allowed to cool down at a temperature at which it is not completely stabilized (such as to C. about), and then transferred into device 21, wherein the forming bodies are subject to be temporarily spaced for substantially stretching the network (such as at a 10 to 10.5 millimeters of interaxial interval) for completing the setting thereof about and between the forming bodies.

In the last heating portion 20, the forming bodies are brought and maintained by the conveyors means 65 at an inter-axial interval equal to the desired inter-axial interval of the cells in the finished article of manufacture (such as of 9.6 millimeters) and the material is finally allowed to cool down to the temperature at which the self-sustaining ability of the material will fully develop. As the said stabilizing temperature is attained, from instant T the forming bodies may be removed from the material, without prejudice, and same material may be immediately cut into pieces to produce the desired multitubular plate sheaths.

FIGS. 5 and 5A illustrate an advantageous ancillary device which may be combined with the inlet or feeding device at 13. Such device includes pairs of toothed wheels 40 and 41 adapted to engage the end portions 29 and 30 (FIG. 7) of any individual forming body 42. The engagement is accomplished by means of curved guide members 43 and 44, for causing the forming bodies and the material M to follow an S-shaped path, While the said bodies are caused to temporarily acquire (upon the pitch of said toothed wheels) an inter-axial interval such to cause the material M to be substantially stretched and the forming bodies 42 to be properly centered into each corresponding individual pocket of the still flabby material. According to the example given, such interval may be of 15.88 millimeters about.

At the outlet of said device 13, at 45, the forming bodies are then transferred on the upper run 46 cf a conventionally constructed chain rotating about and driven by sprocket gears 47 and 43, and progressed towards the inlet of the first preparatory portion 15 of the apparatus, wherein suitable conveyor means engage any individual forming body for progressing same at the desired speed and inter-axial interval from adjacent bodies 42. Such conveyor means are preferably but not exclusively embodied by chains 49 constructed as shown in FIG. 6, for example. Said chains include a plurality of link members pivotally interconnected, according to conventional art, by pins 51 adapted to engage with the toothing of conventionally constructed and arranged sprocket gears, such as at 59 in FIGS. and 7, and shaped to form, on the outside of the chain, recesses 52 for engagement and seating of the end portions of the bodies 42 transferred thereon and progressed thereby. The pitch of said chain 49 will correspond to the desired inter-axial interval of the progressed forming bodies. The conveyor means provided at the other portions of the apparatus, such as indicated at 53, 60, 61, 63 and 65 in the several figures, can be also constructed as shown in FIG. 6, and provided with the differing pockets as required for spacing the forming bodies in the various portions of the apparatus.

FIGS. 8, 8A and 8B show how the device 18 may be constructed and operates. At the outlet of first heating portion 16, the chains 53 transfer the forming bodies 42 on conventional chains 55 on which the forming bodies can relatively move at the extent required for self-setting of the network thereabout. Such chains 55 revolve about sprockets 56 and 57 co-axial to the outlet sprocket 58 of chain 53 and respectively the inlet sprocket 59 of chain 60 of the second heating portion 17. Said chains 53 and 60 have differing pitches P and P (FIGS. 8A and 8B) for having the desired reduction of inter-axial interval between the forming bodies 42, for partially matching the heat-shrinkage of the material (in accordance with the example given, said pitches P and P are of 12.7 and of 9.75 millimeters, respectively).

In consideration of the fact that said forming bodies 42 are made use of as heating means, as shown in FIG. 7, and therefore a difference of potential is to be applied and maintained between the opposite end portions 29 and 30 of each forming body 42 as travelling along heating portions 16 and 17, the various supporting means of the chains 53 and 60, and possibly of chains 55, might be made insulating. Such insulation might be for example provided by mounting the various sprockets about hubs of insulating material, as diagrammatically shown at 54 in FIG. 2B, and the same chains may be made use of for electrical connection of the said end portions 29 and 30 of the forming bodies with a source of electrical current (not shown).

FIGS. 9, 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate the essential components and the operation of device generally indicated at 21 and wherein the forming bodies are transferred from first cooling portion 19 to final cooling portion 20, while subject to a final stretching and network setting mechanical treatment. At the outlet of chain 61, revolving about sprocket 62, of the cooling portion 19, the forming bodies are transferred on the upper run of a chain 63 of the device 21, and which is revolved about two sprockets coaxial to said sprocket 62 of chain 61 and respectively to inlet sprocket 64 of chain 65 of the subsequent cooling portion 20, and which has a pitch P equal to the pitch of preceding chains up to outlet of device 18 of FIGS. 1, 2C, 4 and 8. The upper run of said chain 63 is further caused to pass over a third sprocket 66, which impart to said run a localized curved path such to cause the forming bodies 42 traveling therethrough to be temporarily spaced at an inter-axial interval P greater than the interval resulting to pitch P of the chain, as shown in FIG. 9B.

Upon such temporary increment of interval, the not yet fully stabilized material M is subject to a substantial stretching which is prevailingly effecting the portions M of the textile network, intermediate of the adjacent cells formed upon shrinkage of the material about the forming bodies. Such actions have been proved as advantageous for forcedly setting the textile material in an even and correct arrangement, wherein the said portions M are made perfectly coplanar and centered between the adjacent cells. The material is then transferred in the final cooling portion 20 upon transferring of the forming bodies 42 in the recesses of the chain 65', whose pitch P is equal to the desired inter-axial interval of the cells of the finished article of manufacture to be produced (of 9.6 millimeters, in the example).

The several conveyor means arranged and operating lengthwise the apparatus are driven so that their respective linear speeds will be exactly correlated as a function of the respective inter-axial intervals at which the forming bodies are progressed thereby. Preferably, such conveyor means are driven by means of a variable speed source of rotary movement, for adaptation of the apparatus to differing conditions, such as for processing differing synthetic materials. FIG. 3 indicates the essential components of a transmission for driving the several conveyor means, as embodied by chains as above described.

The various shafts to which the several sprockets are keyed or otherwise secured are driven by parallel shafts 70 and 71 arranged lengthwise the apparatus and conventionally supported for rotation on the frame structure thereof, by means of worm gears 72, 74 and 73, 75, respectively, geared for having the differing transmission ratios required to impart to the individual chains the said relatively differing required linear speeds. By means of further transmission chains, such as diagrammatically indicated at 76, 77 and 78, and of a conventional stepless speed change gearbox 79, said shafts 70 and 71 and therefore all the conveyor means are drivenly connected to a motor 80, for example.

It will be understood too that each of the features described above or may combination thereof may also find a useful application in other types of sheath differing from the one described above.

Without further analysis foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various application without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics if the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalents of the invention as defined in and by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention and the method for producing same, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for processing a heat-shrinkable fabric in elongated piece form and having a plurality of parallel evenly spaced pockets adjacent to each other and located transversely of said piece, for heat-shrinking said fabric about individual forming bodies individually located within each pocket to form a multi-tubular self-sustaining textile material adapted for cutting storage battery plate sheaths therefrom, comprising, in combination, an elongated frame structure having an inlet part and an outlet part at its remotest ends, means for continuously supplying un-processed fabric having individual forming bodies located in said pockets thereof at said inlet part, conveyor means arranged lengthwise of said frame structure and constructed to successively and releasably engage said individual forming bodies to impart to and maintain adjacent forming bodies at a first given inter-axial interval greater than the inter-axial spacing of the cells of the plate sheaths to be produced and then at a final given interval equal to said spacing, while progressing said bodies and the fabric arranged thereabout along said apparatus from said inlet to said outlet part, along portions of said apparatus adjacent to said inlet and respectively to said outlet part, drive means to drive said con veyor means, and means for applying heat to said fabric as progressed along said portions for causing heat-shrinkage thereof While said first interval is controllably reduced by said conveyor means and for causing said fabric to 0001 until rnade self-sustaining While said forming bodies are maintained at said final interval.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprise first conveyor means arranged in a first heating portion and dimensioned to engage and maintain said individual forming bodies at said first given interval as progressed along said first portion, second conveyor means arranged in a second heating portion subsequent to said first portion lengthwise of the apparatus, constructed to engage forming bodies transferred from said first conveyor means and dimensioned to maintain said forming bodies at a second interval near to said final interval while progressed along said second portion, said heating means to heat said fabric about said forming bodies are arranged and constructed for causing partial shrinkage of the fabric in said first portion and complete shrinkage of the fabric in said second portion, and further conveyor means arranged subsequent to said second portion for progressing said forming bodies and fabric along the remaining portions of apparatus until said outlet part thereof, while said fabric is caused to cool down until made self-sustaining, said further conveyor means being dimensioned and driven to bring and maintain said forming bodies at said final interval prior than said fabric is made self-sustaining.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprise substantially parallel transmission chains respectively defining a free space between themselves and having pitches equal to the inter-axial interval to be maintained between the forming bodies progressed thereby, supported for circulation in said frame structure and arranged to have their upper runs lengthwise of said structure in the direction of progression of said forming bodies and fabric, said chains including links forming recesses at the upper face of said upper run shaped for individually seating and progressing said forming bodies at said inter-axial interval therebetween.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, a preparatory fabric stretching device at said inlet part, comprising rotary members recessed to successively engage forming bodies supplied at said inlet and dimensioned to space said bodies from each other to an interval at which the fabric supported thereabout is stretched and any individual progressed body is centered into a pocket of said fabric.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for causing said fabric to cool comprise first and second cooling portions between the portions at which heat is applied to the fabric and said outlet part, said first cooling portion spanning lengthwise the apparatus for causing the fabric traveling therealong to cool down to a temperature at which said fabric is not yet made selfsustaining, said second cooling portion spanning length.- wise the apparatus for causing further cooling down of fabric until made self-sustaining, conveyor means for progressing said bodies and fabric along said first cooling portion, other conveyor means for progressing said bodies and fabric along said second cooling portion while maintaining said forming bodies at said final interval, further conveyor means intermediate of said first and second cooling portions for successively transferring said forming bodies and fabric therebetween and temporarily spacing said forming bodies at an interval such to cause stretching of the not yet made self-sustaining fabric.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, and including fumes and gases scavenging means arranged along the apparatus at portions thereof at which the heat-processed fabric progressed therealong emit fumes and gases, such scavenging means including exhaust duct means and suction inlet parts symmetrically arranged with respect to said progressed fabric.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein second conveyor means in said second heating portion are spaced from said first conveyor means in said first heating portion, said first and second conveyor means being recessed for engagement with the forming bodies for progression thereof at predetermined intervals, and not recessed support means intermediate to said first and second conveyor means for transferring said forming bodies from said first to said second heating portion in not relatively engaged and interval defined relationship to allow fabric network setting relative movements of said forming bodies as transferred.

'8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means include a plurality of electrical resistance heating means respectively inserted in said forming bodies, and means for supplying electrical current to said plurality of electrical resistance heating means during travel of said forming bodies along portions of said-apparatus.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said conveyor means comprise transmission chains formed from electrically conductive material, said transmission chains forming part of said means for supplying electrical current to said plurality of electrical resistance heating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,792,316 2/1931 Leguillon 18-2 2,275,348 3/ 1942 Church et al 264-342 X 2,508,489 5/1950 Browne et a1.

2,919,472 1/1960 Steele 264-291 X 3,01 1,211 12/1961 Barns 264-280 X 3,032,452 5/1962 Magnaguagno 18-19 X 3,040,379 6/1962 Bayer 18-19 3,250,841 5/1966 Reinhart 18-2 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner. ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner. M. R. DOWLING, Assistant Examiner, 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A HEAT-SHRINKABLE FABRIC IN ELONGATED PIECE FORM AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL EVENLY SPACED POCKETS ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER AND LOCATED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PIECE, FOR HEAT-SHRINKING SAID FABRIC ABOUT INDIVIDUAL FORMING BODIES INDIVIDUALLY LOCATED WITHIN EACH POCKET TO FORM A MULTI-TUBULAR SELF-SUSTAINING TEXTILE MATERIAL ADAPTED FOR CUTTING STORAGE BATTERY PLATE SHEATHS THEREFROM, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED FRAME STRUCTURE HAVING AN INLET PART AND AN OUTLET PART AT ITS REMOTEST ENDS, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING UN-PROCESSED FABRIC HAVING INDIVIDUAL FORMING BODIES LOCATED IN SAID POCKETS THEREOF AT SAID INLET PART, CONVEYOR MEANS ARRANGED LENGTHWISE OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTED TO SUCCESSIVELY AND RELEASABLY ENGAGE SAID INDIVIDUAL FORMING BODIES TO IMPART TO AND MAINTAIN ADJACENT FORMING BODIES AT A FIRST GIVEN INTER-AXIAL INTERVAL GREATER THAN THE INTER-AXIAL SPACING OF THE CELLS OF THE PLATE SHEATHS TO BE PRODUCED AND THEN AT A FINAL GIVEN INTERVAL EQUAL TO SAID SPACING, WHILE PROGRESSING SAID BODIES AND THE FABRIC ARRANGED THEREABOUT ALONG SAID APPARATUS FROM SAID INLET TO SAID OUTLET PART, ALONG PORTIONS OF SAID APPARATUS ADJACENT TO SAID INLET AND RESPECTIVELY TO SAID OUTLET PART, DRIVE MEANS TO DRIVE SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, AND MEANS FOR APPLYING HEAT TO SAID FABRIC AS PROGRESSED ALONG SAID PORTIONS FOR CAUSING HEAT-SHRINKAGE THEREOF WHILE SAID FIRST INTERVAL IS CONTROLLABLY REDUCED BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND FOR CAUSING SAID FABRIC TO COOL UNTIL MADE SELF-SUSTAINING WHILE SAID FORMING BODIES ARE MAINTAINED AT SAID FINAL INTERVAL. 